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B E P P O 



OR 

THE UTTLE ROSE- COLORED MONKEY 











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BEPPO 

OR THE 

LITTLE ROSE-COLORED 
MONKEY 


BY 

C. COLLODI 


TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN 
By W. S. cramp 


Jllusjtrateli 



BOSTON 

SMALL, MAYNARD isf COMPANY 
1907 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cvolei Rtceived 

DEC 20 1907 

CopyncBi tntry 

ZTVcjx) IW 

CLASSA xxc./flu. 



Copyright, 1 907 

By SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY 

(incorporated) 


CHAPTER 1 . 


JN the famous forest of “Guess It ’’there 
lived at one time a family of seven 
monkeys,— papa, mamma, and five little 
monkeys as large as pineapple cheeses. 

This family lived among the branches 
of a giant tree, in the middle of the 
forest, and paid fifteen plums’ rent every 
year to an old overbearing gorilla, who 
had taken it into his head to be a pro- 
prietor. 

Four of these little monkeys had skin 
and hair the color of chocolate, but the 
other, the smallest of them all, whether 
it might be a trick of nature or no, the 
fact was that he was covered all over, 

I 


B E P P 0 


except his little face, with a fine hair 
that was fieshy red, just like the leaves 
of a rose. For this reason, even in his 
home and amongst the neighbors, they 
all called him Beppo,— a word that 
means, in the spoken language of 
monkeys, rose-colored. 

Beppo did not resemble either his 
brothers or the other monkeys in the 
neighborhood. He had a quick and in- 
telligent face, a pair of cunning eyes 
that never stood still a minute, a small 
mouth that always laughed, and a dry 
and fiexible personality, like the stem of 
a bulrush. He was, in fact, as it is 
customary to say, a “perfect little 
monkey.’’ 

At first sight one would have almost 


2 


B E P P 0 


thought him a little boy of eight or nine 
years old, because Beppo made a noise 
and trifled away his time just like a boy. 
He ran after the butterflies and went in 
search of birds’ nests, like a boy. He 
was most greedy of fruit, like a boy. 
He ate everything and ate always, like 
a boy. After having eaten enough, he 
cleaned his mouth with his hands, as 
some boys do, especially those boys who 
are not very neat. 

But do you wish to know what the 
greatest passion of Beppo was? 

It was that of imitating everything he 
saw men do. 

One day, while he was going through 
the forest in search of crickets and grass- 
hoppers, he saw, sitting at the foot of a 
3 


B E P P 0 


tree, a young man tranquilly smoking a 
pipe. 

At that sight, Beppo opened his eyes 
wide and became like one enchanted. 

‘‘Oh,^^ he said to himself, ‘‘if I only 
could have a pipe ! Oh, if I could make 
those beautiful clouds come out of my 
mouth! Oh, if I could go back home 
smoking like a chimney ! Oh, with what 
envious eyes my four little brothers would 
look at me 

While these beautiful ideas rushed 
through Beppo’s head, the yoimg man, 
being either tired or warm, gave two or 
three great big yawns and, placing his 
pipe on the ground, went to sleep. 

What, then, did that little scoundrel of 
a Beppo do? He approached very softly 
4 


B E P P 0 



on the tips of his toes the spot where the 
young man was sleeping. Holding his 
breath, he stretched out 
his paw very slowly, 
grabbed the pipe with 
incredible velocity, and ran 
away as fast as the wind. 

As soon as he arrived home, he quickly 
called his papa, mamma, and brothers, 
and in their presence placed the pipe be- 
tween his lips, and began to smoke with 
the airs of an old sailor, 

His mamma and the four 
brothers, seeing the 
clouds of smoke come 
out of Beppo’s mouth, 
laughed like mad; but his papa, who 
was a monkey full of common sense and 



B E P P 0 


worldly experience, said to Beppo in a 
tone of warning:— 

^‘Take care, Beppo! If you begin to 
imitate men, one day you really will 
become a man— and then! Then you 
will bitterly repent, but it will be too late ! ’’ 

Impressed by these words, Beppo threw 
away the pipe, and smoked no more. 
However, you must know that stolen 
pipe carried with it some disgrace. A 
few days after, Beppo was struck with a 
great misfortune ! The poor, unfortimate 
little fellow lost forever his beautiful 
tail, — a tail so beautiful that, once seen, 
it could never be forgotten. 

How did he happen to lose that mag- 
nificent tail? 

It is a cruel and sad story. Only 
6 


•B E P P 0 


thinking about it will make tears come 
to your eyes. I will tell it to you in this 
next chapter. 


7 


CHAPTER IL 


must know that just outside of 
the forest where Beppo lived with his 
family there was a great big lake, in which 
lived a crocodile that was about two thou- 
sand years old. The name of the croco- 
dile was Araba-Babba. He had become 



blind on account of old age, and, not being 
able to gain a mouthful of bread by the 
sweat of his brow, he was condemned to 
live night and day at the edge of the lake, 
with his mouth always opened wide, so 
that any passer-by, be it man or beast, 
moved by compassion, might throw into 
8 


B E P P 0 


that large mouth some food, so that he 
could live another thousand years. And 
all the passers-by, be they man or beast, 
always threw something into that croco- 
dile’s mouth. 

Even Beppo frequently threw in some- 
thing; but that scoundrel, instead of 
giving fruit or dead fish, amused himself 
by putting into the mouth at one time a 
handful of stones, at another time a bun- 
dle of tooth-picks, at another time a nail 
or a rusty horse-shoe that he had found 
along the road. 

But the old crocodile never grew angry. 
Quite the contrary ! 

He quietly spat out the stones, the 
tooth-picks, the nails, and the horse- 
shoes, and usually shook his head as if 


9 


B E P P 0 


to say: ‘‘Take care, little rogue ! Sooner 
or later something will happen !” 

One day Beppo, taken aback by seeing 
that his tricks did not affect the crocodile, 
asked him, “Tell me, Araba, since you 
have been in the world, have you never 
found impertinent people that have given 
you affronts or have played upon you 
impolite tricks?’^ 

“Oh, yes, I have found them! In 
the world I have also found some like 
you, more impertinent than flies.’’ 

“Tell me, Araba, and when these 
rogues are disrespectful, do you never 
resent it?” 

“My dear boy, in so many years of 
life I have learned that the greatest 
virtue of old age is that of knowing 


10 


B E P P 0 


how to endure children with patience and 
resignation.” 

“Then, since you have been in the 
world, you have never gotten angry, 
never, never?” 

The crocodile, before responding, 
thought a little and then said: “One 
time only. And do you know what it 
was that made me angry? It was a little 
monkey just your age”— 

“And what did this little monkey do?” 
asked Beppo, with lively interest. 

“The little scoimdrel— I hardly know 
how to tell you— found out that I was 
ticklish on the point of my nose. Then 
what do you think he did to annoy me? 
He motmted one of the trees around the 
lake, and let himself down from a branch. 


II 


B E P P 0 


so that he touched my nose with the tip 
of his tail. Just imagine ! I was taken 
with such a convulsion of laughter that 
I laughed and danced in the water a whole 
week without stopping. I thought I 
should die.’’ 

“Truly! Poor Araba!” said Beppo, 
with false compassion. 

“And after that,” continued Araba, 
“he went away, and to all the monkeys 
he met on the road he repeated, laughing, 
these words : ‘ Do you wish to amuse your- 
self ? Do you wish to see old Araba dance? 
Come to the lake to-morrow morning, 
and I will show you the funniest thing 
you ever saw in all your life.’ The next 
morning, my dear Beppo, as you can 
easily imagine, there were himdreds of 


12 


B E P P 0 


monkeys on the lake. All waited to see 
me do the ring dance.’’ 

Beppo, hearing this, quickly mounted 
to a tree that leaned over the water, and 
let himself down so that he could just 
touch the crocodile’s nose with his tail. 
But scarcely had the crocodile felt Beppo’s 
tail on the end of his nose when he 
closed his mouth, and, zaff ! in a second he 
pulled off Beppo’s tail clean to the first 
joint. 

The little monkey gave a cry of grief, 
and, jumping down from the tree, ran 
quickly into the forest. Arriving near 
home — but I will leave you to imagine 
how Beppo felt when he placed his hand 
behind him and perceived that he had no 
tail. The tail had remained in the mouth 


13 


B E P P 0 


of the crocodile, who had by that time 
nicely digested it. 

Desperate and ashamed to go home to 
his family in that pitiful state, Beppo ran 
along a small road until it became night. 
Finally, being so tired that he could not 
rim any more, he threw himself on a small 
heap of fodder, in order to sleep a little. 

And while he slept he heard a small 
voice whispering in his ear, — 

“Give me back my pipe.” 

The little monkey, awakened and nearly 
scared to death, wished to run away, but 
he could not, because in less time than 
one can say it he was grabbed, put into a 
sack, and loaded on the back of a beast 
with four legs. He felt himself being 
carried away. 


14 


B E P P 0 


“What beast can that be that carries 
me away with so much haste?” he 
thought, trembling with fear. “If it 
should be a lion, I am lost. If it should 



be a tiger, worse than ever ! If it should 
be a hyena or a leopard, there is no help 
for me. Oh, poor, poor me ! What beast 
is it that carries me away with so much 
haste?” 

Happily, the beast began to bray, and 

15 


B E P P 0 


then Beppo felt his heart swell with satis- 
faction. 

That bray was the only consolation 
that poor Beppo had during his mysterious 
trip, enclosed in a sack. 


CHAPTER HI. 


^^FTER having gone along for three days 
and nights without stopping a minute 
to rest, finally the beast, that carried on his 
back the sack containing the little mon- 
key, stopped suddenly, and coughed so 
violently that he unloaded the sack in the 
middle of a field. 

The cough was so severe that the sack, 
in falling to the grotmd, began to roll on 
the grass and kept on rolling for a half- 
mile. Just imagine how many summer- 
saults the poor little monkey made in that 
dark sack ! 

But the worst moment for him was 
when he tried to break the sack and get 

17 


B E P P 0 


out. He used his nails, but they did no 
good. He used his teeth, but they could 
not help him. Finally, he gave a yell, and 
began to cry like a baby. 

“Who is that crying?” asked a large 
Rat, who happened to pass that way. 

“It is I, a poor little monkey that is 
dying with hun” — 

But he could not finish the word, be- 
cause a very large yawn escaped from his 
mouth instead. 

“Come out and eat,” said the Rat. 

“It is very easy to say that, but I can- 
not.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I cannot breakthe sack open.” 

“Oh, pshaw ! I will open it.” 

And the Rat began to gnaw with all his 

i8 


B E P P 0 


power, but the sack was as hard as leather, 
and he made very little impression. 

‘‘How much time will it take to make a 
hole?^^ asked Beppo. 

“In about four or five months I ought 
to finish it,” replied the Rat. 

“Five months !” cried poor Beppo. “In 
five months I shall be nothing but nails 
and bones.” 

And he began to cry louder than ever. 

“Who is that crying?” asked a Calf 
that was grazing near by. 

“It is an imfortunate little monkey, 
who cannot get out of a sack,” replied 
the Rat. 

“Why can’t he get out?” 

“Because it is so hard that it has to be 
broken.” 


19 


B E P P 0 


“ Let me do it. With a butt of my horns 
I will break it.’^ 

And the Calf, without waiting a minute, 
gave the sack a terrible butt with his 
horns. 

“Oh, I am dead!’^ cried poor Beppo; 
and he said no more. 

Meanwhile the sack, at that shock, 
began again to roll along the earth, like 
a bladder filled with air; and the Rat and 
the Calf tried hard to stop it, but the 
sack rolled more quickly, and left the Rat 
and the the Calf far behind, with their 
tongues out of their mouths. After hav- 
ing rolled for a day, it finally fell into a 
river so large and deep that no one could 
see from one bank to another. 

The next morning some fishermen 


20 


B E P P 0 


knocked at the door of a beautiful pal- 
ace. To the servant who came to 
open it, they eagerly said, “Is the little 
master up?’’ 

“The little master is up, and is taking 
his coffee and milk,” replied the servant. 

“Just tell him that this morning, at 
sunrise, we fished from the river this 
sack”— 

“What is in that sack?” interrupted 
the servant. 

“The little master has waited for it for 
several days.” 

As soon as the servant had done the 
errand, he returned to the door and said 
to the fishermen, “Enter quickly.” 

The fishermen entered with the sack 
on their shoulders, and, when they arrived 


21 


B E P P 0 


before the little master, they placed it 
carefully on the floor. 

‘‘Open it!’^ said the young master, 
Alfred. 

“It is impossible, sir. We have tried 
to crush it with chisels, with hatchets, 
and with piercers; but the sack is harder 
than rock.’’ 

“Take this pin, and make holes in it.” 
Saying this, Alfred took from his neck 
a gold pin surmounted by a large pearl, 
on which— a most singular thing— there 
was a head of a beautiful baby with blue 
hair. 

The flshermen took the pin in their 
hands, and looking at each other in 
stupid wonder, as if to say, “How is it 
possible with this little pin to force open 


22 


B E P P 0 


this sack, that has resisted hachets and 
piercers?’^ 

‘‘Quickly! Quickly!’’ repeated Alfred, 
in a commanding tone. 

The fishermen, in order to be obedient, 
leaned over, trying to pierce the sack. 
Just imagine their surprise when they 
perceived that the pin entered the sack 
as easily as if the sack were made of bread 
or cream puff ! 

When the hole in the sack was 
sufficiently large, they saw the poor 
little monkey with scarcely any signs of 
life. 

Alfred tooji the little monkey by the 
neck, and bathed his mouth with a little 
warm milk. A little while after Beppo 
came to and opened his mouth. Then 

23 


B E P P 0 


Alfred placed in the little monkey’s mouth 
a small ball of sugar and a buttered crust 
of bread. Beppo swallowed both without 
chewing them. Then he opened his eyes 
and looked kindly at the little master who 
had been so good and kind to him. 



Beppo looked as if he wished to say 
“thank you.” He felt so strong that, 
standing on his hind legs, he took Alfred’s 
hand and covered it with kisses. 

The fishermen, both men with large 
hearts, moved by this scene, shed large 
24 


B E P P 0 


tears and dried their eyes. Alfred said 
to them: ‘‘Go now to work, and close the 
door. I have a great desire to talk 
privately with this little monkey.^’ 


25 


CHAPTER IV. 


Alfred and Beppo found them- 
selves alone, they began to look at 
each other without breathing or making 
any movements. They looked at each 
other some little time. Finally, Alfred, 
not able to be serious any longer, biurst 
out laughing: the little monkey burst out 
laughing, too. And they both laughed 
excessively, without knowing why, as 
silly boys laugh when they are taken with 
convulsions of laughter. Out of breath, 
Alfred said to the monkey, ‘‘What is your 
name?” 

“Beppo.” 

“And your other name?” 

26 


B E P P 0 


The little monkey thought a little, and 
then, scratching his head, quickly replied, 
‘‘Beppo without anjrthing else.^’ 

‘‘How old are you?” 

“I am the smallest of my brothers.” 

“How old are yom: brothers?” 

“They are yoimger than papa and 
mamma.” 

“I understand,” said Alfred, laughing. 
Then he asked, “Where did you leave 
your tail?” 

“ I don’t know.” 

“You don’t know?” 

“ I lost it on the way ! I am so careless ! ” 

“What! Is it possible that a little 
monkey can lose a tail on the road?” 

“Oh, then, if you must know, I left it 
at the house. I left so quickly that I had 

27 


B E P P 0 


not had the time to see if I had taken with 
me all my necessaries.’’ 

‘‘Tell me, Beppo, do you ever tell 
stories?” 

“Sometimes— especially when I am 
ashamed to tell the truth.” 

“ You are wrong. Lies never help you.” 

“I will never tell another.” 

“Now tell me the truth. Where did 
you lose your tail?” 

Instead of replying, Beppo began to 
wipe his eyes. Then he said, crying, 
“They— they— a— ate it.” 

“Who ate it?” 

“Araba-Babba, a nasty old crocodile.” 

“How did it happen that he ate it?” 

“I wished to play a joke.” 

“Oh, poor Beppo !” 

28 


B E P P 0 


“And it was such a beautiful tail! 
A tail, believe me, Mr.— What is your 
name?’^ 

“Alfred.’’ 

“And the other name ?” 

“Alfred without the rest.” 

“Believe me, Mr. Alfred Without-the- 
rest, a tail that would make water come 
to your mouth only to look at it. That 
tail was all my patrimony.” 

“Why did you run away from home?” 

“I did not run away. Somebody put 
me in a sack and carried me away.” 

“And now what are you going to do?” 

“I can accommodate myself to any- 
thing.” 

“For example?” 

“I can content myself with little. I 


29 


B E P P 0 


am satisfied if I can eat, drink, and go out 
walking. I ask nothing more.’^ 

‘‘You are discreet, truly ! But who will 
give you something to eat?” 

“I confide in you.” 

“I am willing to give you food, if you 
earn it. Are you accustomed to work?” 

“If I must tell the truth, instead of 
working, it pleases me to see others 
working.” 

“Would you like to be my valet?” 

“Yes, indeed,” replied Beppo, rubbing 
his hands together in glee. 

“In a few days,” said Alfred, “I am 
going to take a long trip. During this 
trip would you like to be my valet, my 
companion of adventure?” 

“Yes, indeed.” 


30 


B E P P 0 


“For breakfast I will give you every 
morning five pears, five apricots, and a 
nice slice of fresh bread. Do you like 
fresh bread?” 

“Yes, indeed.” 

“For dinner you will eat at my table, 
and I will give you some fried fish, some 
plums, and some apricots. Do you like 
apricots?” 

“Yes, indeed.” 

“For supper you will eat eight nuts 
and four figs. Do you like figs?” 

“Yes, indeed.” 

“Every time you are stupid and bad I 
will give you with this whip a caress on 
the legs. Do you like to be stung with a 
whip?” 

“I like figs better,” whines Beppo, 
scratching his head with both hands. 


31 


B E P P 0 


‘‘Do you accept my contract?’’ 

“I accept all but the stings.” 

“If you do not accept that, go away !” 

“But you will strike very slowly?” said 
Beppo. 

“I will strike according to what you 
deserve.” 

“All rightr^I am your valet, your 
secretary, your travelling companion.” 

Then Alfred went towards a table and 
rang a silver bell. A servant entered. 

“ Order quickly a tailor and some cloth,” 
said Alfred. 

The servant went out. Two minutes 
after a tailor appeared with some cloth. 

“I wish you to make a suit of clothes 
for my valet,” said Alfred. 

The tailor, without being told twice, 
32 


B E P P 0 


took out of a basket two little patent 
leather shoes, with a beautiful silk bow on 
the front, and put them on Beppo’s feet. 
Then he put on a pair of red trousers. 
From the knees down he put on a pair of 
gaiters. Then he placed on Beppo’s neck 
a white handkerchief, making a knot like 
a cravat. With a yellow vest and a black 
swallow-tail coat, Beppo’s clothes were 
complete. The tailor then took a high 
hat and placed it on Beppo’s head. 

When Beppo was di'essed from head to 
foot, Alfred said, ‘‘Now look at yourself 
in a looking-glass.’’ 

The little monkey moved quickly, but, 
not being accustomed to wear shoes, made 
a most beautiful slide and fell flat on the 
floor. Just imagine the laughter of Alfred 


33 


B E P P 0 


and the tailor ! Poor Beppo tried to get 
up, but he could not succeed. Finally, 
he sat up, and, touching his nose that was 
peeled, he said: ‘‘I cannot walk with shoes 
on. I wish to go barefooted.’’ 

‘‘Take courage,” said Alfred, “with a 
little patience you will accustom yourself 
to shoes. In this world one must accus- 
tom himself to everything.” 

“But I suffer too much.” 

“Patience! In this world one must 
accustom himself to suffer, too,— so said 
my papa. Up, up ! Look at yourself in 
the glass !” 

The little monkey tried another time; 
but he walked with the steps of a daddy 
longlegs, slowly, very slowly, as if he 
walked on eggs. When he arrived before 
34 


B E P P 0 


the looking-glass, he gave hardly a glance 
at himself ; and, drawing back frightened, 
he commenced to scream desperately, say- 
ing: “Oh, how ugly I am! Oh, my poor 
mamma, they have ruined your little mon- 
key! I am not myself! I am no more 
Beppo ! They have made a man of me ! 
I do not wish to stay here ! I want to go 
away, I want to go home. I do not want 
these nasty clothes, — no, no, no !’^ 

And, crying and turning himself on the 
ground, he took off his shoes and threw 
them into the chimney. He threw the 
high hat in the face of the tailor. He tore 
away the handkerchief from his neck, and, 
making a great big jump, he went out of 
the window and began to run across the 
fields. 


35 


B E P P 0 


Poor Beppo! He ran and ran; but he 
had not made a himdred paces before he 
felt himself seized by the back of his 
trousers, and foimd himself raised from 
the earth in the mouth of a large dog 
called Newearth. 


36 


CHAPTER V. 

'JpHE dog Newearth was one of those 
nice, intelligent, lovable dogs that at- 
tach themselves to their masters like real 
friends. When Alfred saw that Beppo 
had run away, he whistled for Newearth. 
The dog in four jumps caught up to the 
little monkey, and took him, as it has 
already been said, by the seat of his 
trousers, and carried him to his master. 

‘‘Why did you wish to rim away?’’ 
asked Alfred, in a tone of reproof. 

‘ ‘ Because — Because ’ ’ — 

“Come, come! Tell me frankly.” 

“ Because I wish to go back and be a 
little monkey with my papa and mamma 
37 


B E P P 0 


and my little brothers. I do not want 
to masquerade as a man.” 

‘‘And then, why did you a little while 
ago wish to be my travelling companion?” 

“Because I believed it might be nice, 
but instead it is not.” 

“Do you wish truly to go home?” 

“Oh, yes. Please do me the favor of 
never sending that dog after me again.” 

“Do not be afraid. Without my com- 
mand he will not move from here. How 
far away is your house?” 

“Many, many miles.” 

“And, before starting, do you not feel 
the want of eating something?” 

To be frank, the little monkey did not 
feel the shadow of hunger; but, tempted 
by his gluttony, he lowered his eyes and, 
38 


B E P P 0 


feigning to be ashamed, he replied, “I 
will eat a little mouthful willingly.” 

Alfred rang a silver bell. A servant 
brought in a small basket of beautiful 
peaches. The little monkey did not eat 
them: he devoured them as quick as 
lightning. After the peaches, he saw 
presented a basket of cherries, so large, 
so ripe, and so shiny that they made the 
mouth water just to look at them. Beppo 
scrunched them all, three or four at a 
time. Not wishing to pass as a badly 
educated little monkey, he left the leaves, 
stems, and seeds. When he was so full 
that he could hardly see out of his eyes, 
he jumped upon the table, and, making 
a beautiful bow, said to Alfred: ‘‘Good- 
bye, Mr. Alfred. Excuse me for annoying 
39 


B E P P 0 


you. Thousand thanks for your good- 
ness.’’ 

‘‘Good-bye, Beppo. Happy journey. 
Give my respects to the family.” 

The little monkey started to go away; 
but at that moment the servant entered 
with a basket of fruit that sent an odoi 
so delicious aroimd the room that it 
would wake the dead. 

“And what is that fruit?” Beppo asked. 

“Those are Japanese medlars,” Alfred 
replied. “I bought them for your supper 
to-night.” 

Beppo remained a little thoughtful, 
and then said, “ Oh, pshaw ! ” But, becom- 
ing resolute, he started again to go away. 
When he arrived at the door, he stopped 
a few minutes. Then, turning to Alfred, 
40 


B E P P O 


he said, “Excuse me, Mr. Alfred, what 
time is it?’’ 

“Twelve o’clock, precisely.” 

“Twelve o’clock! It seems to me a 
little late to start on a trip.” 

“On the contrary, it is early,” said 
Alfred. “There are seven hours’ daylight, 
and in seven hours you can go pretty far.” 

“You are right. Good-bye, Mr. Al- 
fred. Excuse me for annoying you. 
Thousand thanks for your goodness.” 

This time he left truly. But after a 
quarter of an hour Alfred saw him re- 
appear in the room, all out of breath and 
tired out. 

“What has happened?” asked Alfred. 

“What has happened?” said Beppo. 
“The sun troubles me and dazzles my 

41 


B E P P 0 


eyes. Would you be so good as to lend 
me a cotton umbrella to ward off the 
sun?” ^ 

‘‘Willingly.” 

Alfred called the waiter. After a few 
minutes the waiter brought a beautiful 
parasol, covered with large green and blue 
flowers. 

Beppo took the parasol, opened it, and 
began to walk around the room, giving 
longing looks at the Japanese medlars. 

“My friend,” said Alfred, “if you stay 
much longer, it will be dark before you 
get home.” 

“In the daytime I do not know the 
road,” said Beppo. “Probably it would 
be better to wait until after supper.” 

“Do as you think best,” said Alfred. 

42 


B E P P O 


Saying that, Alfred began to laugh in- 
side, and made a little noise that seemed 
to say, “I imderstand your weakness, my 
dear little glutton.” 

When the hour for supper arrived, 
without waiting to be invited, Beppo sat 
down at the table. In a tone of command, 
Alfred said, ‘‘ What are you doing there?” 

‘‘lam going to eat supper with you.” 

“People who come to my table always 
dress decently. Go quickly, and put on 
your swallow-tail coat.” 

“I do not knowhow to eat in a swallow- 
tail coat.” 

“Then go to the end of the room, 
and content yourself to help me at my 
supper.” 

When Beppo saw that Alfred was seri- 


43 


B E P P 0 


ous, he began to cry and scream; and, 
crying and screaming, he ran out of the 
room. But he soon returned. When 
he entered, he had on a swallow-tail coat. 



all buttoned down the front. He looked 
like a little ‘‘my lord.” 


“That is very good,” said Alfred. “Sit 
down. Good appetite to you.” 

The dish of medlars was brought on 
the table. It is useless to say that after 
a quarter of an hour the dish was empty 
and the little monkey was full. 

“Now, then, I truly go away,” said 
Beppo. 

■# 

But, while he took off his swallow-tail 
44 


B E P P 0 


coat, the servant brought into the room 
a large dish of pomegranates. 

“What a nice odor!’’ cried Beppo, 
sniffling and keeping his eyes on the 
plate. “Whom are they for?” 

“They were for your breakfast to- 
morrow morning. But now you are 
going away, I will eat them.” 

“I— would go away willingly, but some- 
how I only know the road in daytime. 
Would it not be better if I should wait 
imtil after breakfast?” 

“All right!” said Alfred. “Your room 
is ready for the night. Good-night.” 

The next morning, at breakfast time, 
the little monkey promptly presented 
himself, dressed in the swallow-tail coat. 
But Alfred, after looking him over from 
45 


B E P P 0 


head to foot, said, “Who has taught you 
to present yourself at table without shoes 
and cravat?” 

Mortified and confused, Beppo began 
to scratch his head and nose, and, whining, 
said: “The shoes hurt me. The cravat 
rubs my throat. I wish rather to go 
away.” 

“Then leave me.” 

Beppo went towards the door slowly, 
but, before going out, he took a long last 
look at the pomegranates. Then he went 
away. 

“This time he has truly gone,” said 
Alfred. “I am very sorry. I liked the 
little monkey. What will the good fairy 
say when she knows that I chased him 
away? However, she always taught me 
46 


B E P P 0 


to dress well and neatly. Oh, well ! 
What is done is done !” 

While Alfred spoke thus to himself, 
he heard a knock on the door. At the 
same time he heard a little voice say, 
^‘Mr. Alfred, did you call me?^’ 

‘‘Who is it?’’ cried Alfred. 

“It is I.” 

The door opened, and there stood the 
little monkey. He had on the little shoes, 
and he carried his head straight and stiff 
because the collar cut his throat. At 
that imexpected sight it is impossible 
to imagine Alfred’s happiness. He went 
towards Beppo, embraced and kissed him 
just as if he had not seen him for twenty 
years. 

They both swore never to leave each 
47 


B E P P 0 


other, and that they would make the 
voyage around the world. 

The boat on which they were to em- 
bark was expected every day. Finally, it 
arrived. ^ 

On the night it sailed, Alfred and Beppo 
dined together, as it was usual to do. 
And during the dinner they spoke of a 
thousand things. They laughed, and were 
as happy as boys are on the eve of a 
siunmer vacation. Rising from the table 
and looking at his watch, Alfred said: 
‘‘The ship goes at midnight. We have 
scarcely an hour to pack our trunks and 
put on our travelling suits.’^ 

“I will be ready in five minutes,” said 
Beppo; and, dancing and jumping, he 
went into his room. When he was there, 
48 


B E P P 0 


he immediately commenced to take off 
his swallow-tail coat, in order to put on 
a little white cotton jacket. Instead of 
shoes, he put on little double-soled boots. 



elegant blue silk cap. 

Then he went to look at himself in the 
looking-glass; but, while he was proudly 
admiring himself and making with his 
mouth and eyes a thousand grotesque 
twitchings, he heard a small noise as if 
49 


B E P P 0 


some one outside were trying to get into 
the window. At first, Beppo was fright- 
ened. But, taking courage, he opened 
the window, and he saw two paws that 
embraced him tightly aroimd the neck, 
and he heard a voice suffocated with joy 
and consolation that said: ‘‘0 my pool 
Beppo! At last I have found you!’’ 


50 


CHAPTER VI. 

gEPPO quickly recognized the voice of 
his father, and, greatly moved, 
cried, ‘‘What are you doing here, papa, 
at this hour?’’ 

“I have sought you ever3rwhere for a 
month.” 

“Where is mamma?” 

“Yonder.” 

“Where?” 

“At the end of that field.” 

“And my brothers?” 

“They are also there.” 

“And what are they doing in the field?” 
“They are awaiting you with open 
arms.” 

SI 


B E P P 0 




“Oh, how I would like to see them !” 

“Come, then, with me.” 

“If I only could ! But at present I can- 
not, truly I cannot.” And, saying this, 
the little monkey began to cry and rub 
his eyes in desperation. 

“And why?” 

“Because I have promised a friend” — 

“And what promise have you made?” 

“I promised to go away with him to- 
night and to accompany him around the 
world.” 

“And have you the courage to leave 
your poor family? Without you, Beppo, 
we shall all die of grief.” 

“ Oh, do not say that ! But I hate to 
break my promise.” 

“When must you go?” 

52 


B E P P O 


“ In a few minutes.” 

“Come, at least, to say good-bye to 
your mother and brothers.” 

“And if Mr. Alfred should call me in 
the mean time?” 

“Who is Mr. Alfred?” 

“He is my friend.” 

“If he calls you— why, let him call.” 

“And if the boat goes?” 

“Let it go.” 

Contented at having found a good ex- 
cuse for not keeping his promise, the 
little monkey said, shaking his head: “All 
right. Before going on the trip, I wish to 
see my mamma and my brothers.” Hav- 
ing said that, he motmted to the window, 
and, giving a great big jump, he cast him- 
self down. Then one heard a splash, like 


53 


B E P P 0 


that of a great big stone fallen in a trench 
of water and mud. 

“Help me, father, or I die!’’ cried 
Beppo. 

Whathadhappened, my readers? Why, 
the ground of that field, on accoimt of the 
rain the preceding day, was covered with 
water. Beppo was immersed clean up to 
his throat. Fortimately, his father saved 
him in good time. But, when he came out 
of that bog, he carried no more his boots. 
His beautiful boots were buried two feet 
under the earth. “Oh,” he said, laugh- 
ing, “I will have to buy a new pair.” 

Without losing time, papa and son ran 
along the road. But they had not gone 
twenty feet when Beppo heard flying over 
his head a nocturnal bird which suddenly 
54 


B E P P 0 


plucked away the beautiful blue silk 
travelling cap. 

“Bad bird! Give me my cap imme- 
diately,” cried the little monkey. 
“Cucu!” said the bird, and flew away. 



“Oh ! I shall have to buy a new cap.” 

Papa and son began to rim again. But 
a large thorn caught Beppo’s trousers and 
coat, and reduced him to the last tatters. 

“Now here am I without trousers and 
a coat,” said Beppo. 

“Buy new ones,” said his father. 

“Oh, poor me, poor me !” cried Beppo. 
“Of all my beautiful clothes, I have left 
only a shirt and a collar.” Saying this, 
55 


B E P P O 


he caught for his shirt, but instead he 
found a shirt of nettles. He touched his 
neck, in order to see if the collar was there, 
but he felt wiggling in his fingers a large 
serpent, like an eel of the sea. 


56 


CHAPTER VII. 


JN touching the serpent that was wrapped 
around his neck instead of a cravat, 
Beppo was taken with an indescribable 
fear. He would like to have screamed, but 
his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. 
His feet trembled so that he could hardly 
walk. Not being able to longer stand 
upright, he fell on the ground like a rag, 
$aying with a thread of voice, “I die,’’ 

‘‘What do you feel?” asked his father, 
dismayed. 

“A great illness.” 

“Where do you feel it?’’ 

“All over my body.” 

“What illness is it?” 

57 


B E P P 0 


“It is the illness of fear.” 

“An ugly illness, truly, my child. A 
unique sickness for which the doctors 
have not yet found a cure. Try to be 
brave.” 

“ I have tried.” 



“Now how do you feel?” 

“Worse than before.” 

“But what is the reason for this fear?” 
“A great misfortune is going to happen 
to me.” 

“And how do you know that?” 

“In a few moments I have had many 
signs. Do you remember my nice new 

58 


B E P P 0 


boots stuck in the mud? And the coat 
and trousers caught on the thorn? And 
the shirt become suddenly a shirt of net- 
tles? And the serpent that has just es- 
caped? The serpent is always there, al- 
ways there ! Look there !” 

‘‘ Where ?’’ 

‘‘There!’’ 

Beppo’s father turned to look at the 
indicated point and he truly saw in the 
darkness of the night a large serpent that 
shone with a reddish light, as if it might 
be a crystal serpent with a body like a 
lamp in a tramway. With his head erect, 
the serpent fixed its eyes on those of the 
little monkey. 

“What do you want with me?” asked 
Beppo, with the courage of a lion. 

59 


B E P P 0 


“ I come to bring you salutations from 
Mr. Alfred,’’ replied the serpent. 

‘‘Poor Mr. Alfred ! Has he gone on his 
voyage?” 

“He went a few minutes ago, and he 
told me that you promised to go with 
him.” 

“’Tis true, ’tis true, ’tis true! To- 
morrow I shall go, and I hope to meet 
him on the high seas.” 

“Let us hope so, truly! Remember, 
however, little monkey, that, when one 
makes a promise, he ought to keep it! 
Do you understand?” 

Scarcely had the serpent said these 
words when he disappeared in the dark. 

Then Beppo, tormented in his heart by 
a species of remorse, was nearly on the 
6o 


B E P P 0 


point of saying good-bye to his father and 
of taking the shortest road to the sands 
by the sea; but, while he was on the point 
of deciding, he saw far away burning 
torches moving here and there, and he 
heard light music of fifes, drums, and 
mandolins. 

“ What is that music, and what are those 
lights?” he asked, greatly surprised. 

‘‘What! Can’t you guess?” 

“No.” 

“Your brothers are coming to meet 
you with a torch-light procession.” 

“Oh, what pleasure 1 Oh, what a beau- 
tiful spectacle ! Let us rim, papa, let us 
run!” 

Both began to run along the road. 
Beppo, who had regained in a second the 

6i 


B E P P 0 


force in his thin and quick legs, not only 
ran, but it seemed as if he flew like a bird. 

Who will give me words adapted to 
describe the scene of meeting? Believe 
me, it was a scene so affectionate that 
it is impossible to imagine it without hav- 
ing seen it with your very eyes. It is 
enough to say that the happiness of the 
four brothers, in seeing their little brother 
who, they thought, had been forever lost, 
was so tempestuous and excessive that 
they jumped all over him, and it is a 
wonder they did not smother him with 
their flood of kisses, embracings, and 
caresses. 

When they had exhausted the affection 
of their hearts, they commenced to cry 
in chorus, ‘‘Curaca, curaca, curaca!”— 
62 


B E P P 0 


in the familiar dialect of monkeys, you 
must know, little reader, that “curaca’^ 
means “to supper, to supper, to supper 
No sooner said than done. They seated 
themselves on the groimd aroimd a large 
basket of peaches, of apricots, and of 
Indian figs; and there, laughing and 
scratching themselves, and making with 
their mouths a thousand grimaces and a 
thousand distortions in sign of great 
happiness, they ate xmtil they could hold 
no more, just as if they had fasted for 
two weeks. And not only did they eat, 
but they drank. And they drank so much 
grape juice that they all slept and snored 
like so many dormice. 

Suddenly they were awakened by a 
horrible voice that said, “Woe to him that 
moves 


63 


CHAPTER VIII. 

OW I will leave you to imagine how 
scared they were, when, jumping to 
their feet and opening wide their eyes, 
they saw themselves siurroimded by a 
gang of ugly figures, black as ink and 
all armed with swords and sticks. 

‘‘We are lost ! We are lost cried the 
little monkeys. 

“Lost?’^ repliedBeppo. “Wait ! There 
is always time to die.’’ 

“But who are they?” asked one. 

“They are assassins,” said Beppo. 

“What do they want?” 

“They want to rob us,” said Beppo. 
“How many pennies have you?” 

64 


B E P P 0 


“Not one.’’ 

“Then I am as rich as you are,” said 
Beppo, scratching his head. Then he 
continued: “What queer assassins ! Not 
one of them has the courage to advance !” 

And he told the truth. For all those ugly 
figmes that formed a circle stood stock- 
still, without raising an arm or saying a 
word. Then Beppo, advancing, said in a 
pretty manner: “Excuse us, Mr. Assassins. 
Will you have the goodness to allow us to 
pass?” 

No one replied, no one breathed. 

“Thanks for your politeness,” added 
the little monkey. “You must know that 
we are a poor family, —papa, mamma, and 
five children,— and we would like to go 
home. Do you consent ? ” 

65 


B E P P 0 


As before, no one replied. 

‘‘Understand,’’ said Beppo. “Thanks 
for your kindness. Come, papa, be brave ! 
Since these gentlemen are content, make 
a big jump and pass over their heads. 
Go and await us on the other side.” 

The papa monkey jumped, then the 
mamma, then the four little monkeys. 

“Now it is my tiun,” said Beppo, who 
was alone in the circle of the assassins. 
But, when he was on the point of 
jumping, all those assassins became so 
long, so high, that they looked like tall 
towers. 

“Beppo, Beppo !” cried the other mon- 
keys from the outside. But the poor lit- 
tle monkey did not have any breath to 
reply. 


66 


B E P P 0 


After a little time the chief of the gang 
said, “ What do you think you are going 
to do?” 

‘‘I think I am going home with my 
brothers.” 

“Do not deceive yourself, Beppo. You 
will not go home.” 

“Then I will remain here.” 

“Not even that! You will come with 
me.” 

“With you? Not if you bind me.” 

“Oh, yes. You will come with me.” 

“Not even if you give me a hundred 
baskets of cherries.” 

“Oh, yes, you will.” 

“Not even if I am dead.” 

The chief of the gang, without adding 
other words, leaned over and took the 
67 


B E P P 0 


poor little monkey by the neck and placed 
him in the pocket of his large coat. Then 
he buttoned the pocket with three buttons 
that looked like three carriage wheels. 

“Now we can go/’ said the chief to his 



companions; and they all together took 
the road that led through the coimtry. 

It is impossible to relate the despera- 
tion, the cries, and yells of Beppo’s four 
little brothers. They called him with 
68 


B E P P 0 


most acute cries; but they had only the 
consolation of seeing the paws of the 
little monkey that came out of the pocket 
of the chief, and that moved quickly as 
if they wished to ask for help. 


69 


CHAPTER IX. 


^HEN the assassins had gone twenty 
miles, the terrible Dry-throat— for 
that was the name of the chief— stopped 
in the middle of a field, and, turning to 
his companions, said to them in a large 
voice: “Now you can go back to the 
Black Country. Await me there, and in 
four or five days we will see each other 
again.” 

“Excuse me, sir,” said one of the ugly 
faces, “did you think to bring with you 
something to eat?” 

“I have carried nothing.” 

“Too bad ! And if along the road you 
should have an appetite?” 


70 


B E P P 0 

‘‘If I do not find anything else, I will 
resign myself to eat this little monkey 
that I have here in my pocket.” 

Poor Beppo, hearing such words, com- 
menced to scratch his nose and ears with 
desperation. 

“But, if you eat the little monkey, what 
will the good fairy with the blue hair 
say?” 

“The fairy will not scold me, because 
I promised to carry her Beppo dead or 
alive. In any case, if there comes to me 
the wish to eat him, I will keep his skin 
intact, because the fairy can see with 
her own eyes, and ascertain that I have 
carried out her wishes.” 

“You are right, master. A good trip 
and safe return to you !” 

71 


B E P P 0 


Scarcely had the assassins taken leave 
of their leader, when they attached under 
their arms some large wings, and, jump- 
ing up, they mounted into the air with a 
great noise, just like a flock of frightened 
crows. 

Dry-throat, thus left alone, followed 
his road across the flelds, rivers, forests, 
and lakes, without stopping, never, never, 
never. After having walked two days 
and nights, he heard, coming out of the 
pocket of his large coat, a suffocated 
voice that appeared to come from under 
the earth, saying with a tone of sobbing: 
“ I am himgry. I am very hungry.’’ 

Dry-throat, instead of replying, stroked 
his long beard, and redoubled his pace. 

After a few minutes he heard again 

72 


B E P P 0 


the little voice, saying: ‘‘Mr. Assassin, 
will you give me a grape or a cherry or a 
half a pear? I am so starved that I feel 
as if my stomach would go away. Be- 
lieve me, Mr. Assassin, I am so hungry 
that I can see it in the dark.” 

“If you are htmgry,” replied Dry-throat, 
laughing, “search around my pocket. 
You will find some nice little tidbits 
there that will not give you indigestion.” 

“For two days and nights I have 
searched, and I have foimd nothing,” 
said Beppo. 

“Then eat the lining of the pocket.” 

“I have eaten the first lining, but the 
second is so hard that my teeth cannot 
make an impression on it.” 

“You have eaten it?” yelled Dry-throat, 
73 


B E P P 0 


getting angry. “Ugly little monkey! 
Just wait until we arrive at the Fly Inn. 
I will teach you a lesson.^’ 

Meanwhile night came on. Oh, it 
was an awful night! The heavens were 
covered with clouds. It lightened and 
thimdered. The forest trees, knocked 
down by the violent wind, twisted, creaked, 
and groaned like so many desperate 
souls. At exactly midnight. Dry-throat 
arrived before the Fly Inn. It was closed. 
He struck at the door once, twice, three 
times. No response. Then, with all the 
breath he had in his lungs, he began to 
cry: “Open the door. Candle-bit! ^Tis 
I!’’ 

Candle-bit was the name of the inn- 
keeper. Every one called him that, be- 
74 


B E P P 0 


cause he was little and resembled a bit of 
yellow candle grease. The inn was opened 
only in daytime. Scarcely did night 
come on, when Candle-bit, annoyed at 



put out the fires and lights, and then went 
to bed. Once in bed, he never opened 
the door for any one. 

When Dry-throat perceived that the 
inn-keeper was making fim of him, what 
75 


B E P P 0 


do you think he did? He began to ex- 
tend his arms and legs imtil he became 
so large that the roof of the inn came to 
his waist. Then, working with both his 
hands, he began to take off the roof. 
The bricks, rafters, and tiles flew away, 
like leaves carried away by the wind. 

Candle-bit, scared nearly to death at 
the horrible noise, poked his head out- 
side of the sheet, and, feigning to awake, 
said in a trembling voice, ‘‘Who is it that 
calls me?^’ 

“’Tis replied Dry-throat, putting 
his head into the hole he had made in the 
roof. 

You must know, little reader, that this 
hole opened into the room of the inn- 
keeper, who felt his blood congeal when 
76 


B E P P 0 


in the flame of lightning he saw the 
menacing face of the head of the gang of 
assassins. 

‘‘What do you wish with me, Mr. Dry- 
throat?’’ asked Candle-bit, who from 
fear had little breath left in his body. 

“What do I wish? I wish to take you 
by the hair, and throw you away a thou- 
sand miles.” 

“Oh, do not do that! Have pity on 
me ! ” 

“You do not deserve pity.” 

“Have pity then on my little baby! 
If he remains alone in this house, the 
wolves will eat him.” 

“No, no, I do not wish to be eaten by 
wolves,” said the little baby. 

At the words of the child. Dry-throat 
77 


B E P P 0 


changed. In a more human voice he 
said: ‘‘All right! Get up and prepare 
me some supper.’’ 

Candle-bit obeyed. He was so scared 
that he did not remember how to dress 
himself. He thought he had taken his 
stockings and tried to put his feet in his 
night-cap. He perceived his error and 
put on his shoes, then over his shoes he 
put on his stockings. Then he put on his 
jacket, then his shirt, then his vest. 
Finding his trousers in his hand, he for- 
got what they were for, and he put them 
into his bureau. Then he descended and 
opened the door. 

Dry-throat, who had taken the size of 
an ordinary man, went inside ; and, 
shaking the drops of water off his clothes, 
78 


B E P P 0 


he sat down at a table. He asked the 
landlord, “What can I have for supper?’’ 

“All that you might wish, Your Majesty. 
All you have to do is to order.” 

“What kind of meat have you?” 

“We have no meat.” 

“And cheese?” 

“We have no cheese.” 

“And bread?” 

“We have no bread.” 

“What, then, can I eat?” asked the 
assassin, shaking his head and beginning 
to lose patience. 

“If Your Majesty desires fruit?” 

“What kind of fruit have you?” 

“Cherries, almonds, and peaches.” 

“Give me a plate of peaches.” 

“And to me a nice plate of cherries,” 
79 


B E P P 0 


said a little voice that came out of the 
pocket of Dry-throat. 

‘‘Who asked for cherries?^’ stuttered 
the landlord, surprised and afraid. 

“It is I,’’ replied a little voice. 

“Doubt not,’’ interrupted Dry-throat, 
“doubt not, Beppo, that I will give you 
some cherries. Come out of my pocket, 
and we will settle our accounts.” Say- 
ing this, the chief of the gang unbuttoned 
the pocket of his coat, and the little 
monkey, without making any compli- 
ments, jumped upon the middle of the 
table and placed himself upon a soup 
tureen. 


8o 


CHAPTER X. 

^J^HEN Dry-throat, turning to Beppo 
with a frown that would scare any 
one, asked him, “Who has eaten the 
lining of my pocket?’’ 

As if these words were not addressed to 
him, the little monkey began to look here 
and there. Then, fixing his mobile and 
nervous eyes on the face of the chief of 
the assassins, he said in a caressing voice : 
“Rest contented, Mr. Assassin. I speak 
to you seriously. I have never seen a 
beard as pretty as yours ! You have the 
prettiest beard in all the world.” 

“Leave my beard alone and answer me. 
Who has eaten the lining of my pocket?” 

“But not only is your beard beautiful,” 

8i 


B E P P 0 


added the little monkey, ‘‘everybody says 
that you are the kindest man in the world. 
You have the heart of a Caesar!” 

“Let my heart alone. Who has eaten 
the lining of my pocket?” 

“ And that is not all. Everybody says 
that you are handsome. Would you like 
me to tell you what I think? I have seen 
many handsome men ; but a man as hand- 
some as you I have never seen.” 

“You ought to have seen me thirty 
years ago,” replied Dry-throat, smoothing 
his beard. “ Then I was handsome ! Hey, 
Candle-bit! Was I not handsome thirty 
years ago?” 

“The first time I saw you,” said Candle- 
bit, “you were like the sun! Yes, the 
mid day smi !” 


82 



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B E P P 0 

“To-day you are the setting sun!’’ 
added Beppo; “but a magnificent simset! 
A sunset that is better than an Aurora 
borealis.” 

“I perceive, my dear little monkey, that 
you are bright and smart: for this I like 
you,” said Dry-throat. “Come from the 
soup tureen and sit alongside of me. We 
will eat together. Candle-bit ! Bring 
immediately a plate of peaches and a plate 
of cherries for my friend Beppo. My 
friend is a sincere little monkey and is a 
lover of truth. If he meets a man truly 
handsome, he does not fear to tell him 
before his face, ‘You are the handsomest 
man in the world !’ ” 

So they ate together with a great ap- 
petite. When the supper was over, the 

83 


B E P P 0 


little monkey asked, “If I might be not 
too indiscreet, I would like to know where 
you wish to carry me.’’ 

“To the house of a beautiful fairy with 
blue hair.” 

“What does she want with me?” 

“She is angry.” 

“And why?” 

“Because she says you made a promise 
to accompany her son Alfred on a long 
trip, and that you broke your promise.” 

“How far away is the house of the 
fairy?” 

“More than a thousand miles.” 

“I do not wish to go there.” 

“You do not wish to go,” replied Dry- 
throat, becoming serious. “But I will 
carry you by force.” 


84 


B E P P 0 


“You will not be able to carry me.’’ 

“Why?” 

“Because I will run away.” 

“You will rim away?” yelled the assas- 
sin, blowing like a wounded bull. “Get 
right into my pocket, and to-morrow 
morning at daylight we will leave.” 

Saying this. Dry-throat seized the little 
monkey and placed him in the dark 
pocket, securing the pocket with the same 
buttons that looked like carriage wheels. 
Then taking off his coat, he laid it over a 
chair, and, resting his head against the 
wall, said to the host, “I will take a little 
nap on this bench, and take care to wake 
me at daylight.” 

“Sleep tight,” replied Candle-bit, and, 
taking a candle, he returned to his room. 
85 


B E P P 0 


Now you must know, little readers, that 
Dry-throat had a very bad habit of snor- 
ing. He made a noise with his mouth, 
like the painful and prolonged whistle 
which birds make when chased by a falcon. 

Hearing this whistle, Candle-bit^s tabby- 
cat Nanni entered the room on the tips 
of her feet, sniffling here and there, per- 
haps with the hope of finding some little 
bird escaped from a cage. Instead of a 
bird he foimd a coat on a chair, and he 
smelt a warm and strange odor like fiesh. 
‘‘What animal can that be?’’ he said to 
himself. “A mouse? Certainly not. It 
is too large. Perhaps it is a piece of roast 
lamb? No, that can’t be it, because that 
is not the odor of cooked beef. What 
can it be?” 


86 


B E P P 0 


He began to sniffle again. After mov- 
ing his little nostrils from side to side, he 
decided that that odor was to him like a 
sealed book. He understood nothing. 
But, while he was licking his mustache 
and was wrapped in deep thought, it 
appeared to him that he heard a slight 
noise. He pricked up his ears, and moved 
his head to one side to listen better. He 
heard inside the pocket a weak noise like 
‘‘Kickiriki !” 

‘‘It is a chicken,’’ saidNanni, meowing 
with happiness, “yes, it is truly a chicken ! 
The odor does not appear to be truly like 
a chicken; but these bad chickens are 
sly and deceitful things. Why, I remem- 
ber once at the theatre I carried away a 
chicken that was behind the scenes, and, 

87 


B E P P 0 


when I arrived home, I found it full of 
rags and sawdust.^’ 

‘‘Kickiriki sounded a second time. 
‘‘You call me, eh?” said Nanni to him- 
self. “ I am coming. It has been a great 
many days since I ate a chicken.” And 
he commenced to work with teeth and 
nails to open the pocket. Scarcely, how- 
ever, had he opened one button, when he 
saw jump outside a little monkey, all 
bowing and scraping. 

Beppo said: “I have heard, my dear 
Tabby-cat, that you desire to eat a little 
chicken meat. It gives me infinite pleas- 
ure to tell you that I have left in the bot- 
tom of that pocket a nice big piece of 
breast. If you wish to eat it, go inside, 
and good appetite to you.” 

88 


B E P P 0 


Without being invited the second time, 
Nanni entered the pocket; but he had 
hardly entered when the button was 
closed above him. 

“Are you inside?^’ said Beppo, rubbing 
his little front paws with satisfaction. 

“While you are looking for the nice 
piece of breast, I will leave here. Give 
my respects to the people of the house.’’ 

When the little monkey had mumbled 
these words between his teeth, he opened 
quietly the door of the inn, and disap- 
peared among the trees of the forest. It 
was a very black night, and he could 
scarcely see where he went. 


CHAPTER XI. 

'jpHE little monkey had gone only a 
hundred paces from the Fly Inn when 
Candle-bit, jumping from his bed, called 
down the stairs with all the voice he had 
in his throat: “Ho, Mr. Dry-throat! If 
you wish to depart, wake up ! In a little 
time it will be day.’’ 

“I will leave immediately,” replied the 
chief of the assassins. “I will pay you 
for the supper when I return.” 

“Happy journey to you! Good-bye!” 

Dry-throat searched in the dark for his 
coat ; and, after having found it and put 
it on, he placed his hand in the pocket to 
assure himself that the little monkey was 
90 


B E P P 0 


there. But, while doing so, he gave a cry 
of pain, for he was scratched badly by 
terrible sharp nails. 

‘‘You miserable scoimdrel of a little 
monkey!’’ he said. “So you want to 
scratch me! Woe to you if you try to 
repeat that trick ! I swear to you that I 
will tear every nail from your hand, one 
by one !” 

Saying this, he went out of the inn and 
closed the door. After walking along for 
three hours, he felt that his hand was 
bleeding. Then he became angry, and 
so enraged did he become that he struck 
his pocket a hard blow. 

“ Gvaooo,” cried a voice from the inside, 
plaintively mewing. 

“Ah ! You are playing with me ! You 

91 


B E P P 0 


are amusing yourself by making a noise 
like a cat ! Take that, too And again 
he struck his pocket with more force than 
the first time. 

‘‘Gvaooo! gvaooo! gvaooo !” repeated 
the same voice, with an angry mewing. 

“Then you will not stop?’’ he said, 
putting his hand into his pocket. But 
again he received a deep scratch. Then, 
crazed with pain and losing patience, he 
took out of his pocket a large pair of 
sharpened scissors and mumbled threat- 
eningly between his teeth: “Now, now, I 
will cure you of those sharp nails ! From 
to-day, ugly monkey, you will never 
scratch again, not even a fiea bite.” 

Raising his coat, he opened the pocket 
wide, so as to grab the little monkey, 
92 


B E P P 0 


when all of a sudden out jumped a large 
tabby-cat, that scratched the eyes of the 
chief assassin. It was Nanni, the cat 
that belonged to Candle-bit. 

Dry-throat yelled with anger, and would 
have liked to follow it; but the unfor- 
tunate man could see no more. The 
ferocious nails of the cat had blinded him. 
He wandered around for a hundred days 
and nights in the forest without meeting 
any one to show him the way home. 
Formerly, when the wolves saw him from 
afar, they ran away with great fear. Now, 
knowing that he was blind and incapable 
of defending himself, they played a thou- 
sand tricks. Formerly the birds and the 
rabbits, at the approach of this fearful 
himtsman, vanished like so many shadows. 

93 


B E P P 0 


Now the same sparrows and even the 
little baby sparrows, passing near him, 
struck his nose with their wings for 
amusement, and the rabbits and the little 
baby rabbits danced aroimd his feet the 
polka and the tarantella. What beauti- 
ful courage! What bravery! is it not, 
my little readers? And yet it is the same 
among boys. They are very much like 
the sparrows and the rabbits. They make 
the same fun of those poor imfortunates 
who, either through age or illness, cannot 
defend themselves nor make themselves 
respected. 

The fact was that one night, while Dry-, 
throat went down a small road, among 
the highest trees of the forest, searching 
for something to eat, he foimd the road 
94 


B E P P 0 


barricaded by a small house. Very happy, 
he knocked at the door. 

“Who is there?” askedavoice from the 
inside. 

“I am a poor blind man, lost in the 
forest. I am seeking a bed for the night.” 

“Poor blind man! Come in!” re- 
peated the same voice, as the door opened. 

Now I leave you to think how surprised 
our little friend Beppo was when he saw 
that he had opened the door for his ter- 
rible persecutor. 


95 


CHAPTER XII. 


J^OW in the world did Beppo find him- 
self in that solitary house in the 
middle of the forest? What had hap- 
pened to him after his flight from the 
Fly Inn? In order to answer these ques- 
tions, it is necessary to return a few 
steps backward. 

You must then know that, when he left 
the inn, he ran around the forest at ran- 
dom, as it was very, very dark. The most 
acute desire that stimg him was to find 
the road that led to his house; but in- 
stead he ran like a mad man, here and 
there, wherever his legs and fears carried 
him. At every breath of wind and at 
every rustle of a leaf he seemed to hear 
96 


B E P P 0 


behind him the terrible Dry-throat, with 
the cat in his pocket. Finally, when it 
became day, he met a disputing tribe of 
monkeys that screamed, yelled, and beat 
one another. Informing himself of the 
reason of so much noise, he foimd out that 
the tribe was electing an emperor. Then 
Beppo, entering into the middle of the 
crowd, called for silence. 

Suddenly they all became calm. Beppo 
began to say: “My most dear colleagues! 
I imderstand you wish to elect a leader, 
and to this leader you wish to give the 
title of emperor. Among all those who 
are present I see only one who is truly 
worthy to be called by that great name.’^ 

“Who may that be? Give us his; 
name!’^ shouted a thousand voices. 


97 


B E P P 0 


Beppo lowered his eyes and said nothing. 

“Who may that one be?” repeated the 
same voices, screaming louder. “We 
wish to know the name— the name— the 
name !” 

“Do you truly wish to know?” then 
said Beppo. “It displeases one to be 
obliged to confess it to you. But the only 
one who is worthy to be elected Emperor 
is I.” 

“Long live Beppo! Hurrah for om 
Emperor! Hurrah for the Emperor of 
all the Monkeys!” cried that immense 
gathering, enthusiastically beating their 
hands. 

Beppo was immediately carried into the 
middle of the crowd, to an old straw chair 
that, looked at from behind, resembled 
98 


B E P P 0 


very much an imperial throne. Beppo 
sat down with great gravity and dignity. 
Meanwhile a loud flourish of trumpets and 
music composed of cymbals and bulls’ 
horns began to play the Coronation Hymn. 
Four monkeys, clothed like pages, pre- 
sented to the new Emperor a beautiful 
platter, embroidered with gold, on which 
was a crown and an imperial sceptre. 
The crown was made of honeycomb tied 
to a thin iron ring: the sceptre was a 
cane of sugar candy. 

Beppo took the crown from the tray, 
and, after having with much dignity smelt 
and licked it, placed it on his head. Then 
he seized the sceptre, and, not being able 
to resist the temptation, began to suck 
and eat it. But, unfortunately, a monkey 
LOfC. 99 


B E P P 0 


that was alongside of him and that called 
himself the chamberlain gave Beppo a 
little push on the elbow, in order to warn 
him of the impropriety of the act. Then 
the new Emperor stopped suddenly; and, 
in order to remedy the scandal, he began 
to lick his fingers. 

In the mean while sixteen monkeys 
carried on their shoulders a magnificent 
litter, adorned with leaves, fiowers, and 
the most beautiful fruit, and placed it 
before him. The chamberlain, after hav- 
ing made two profound bows, said re- 
spectfully to the new emperor, ‘‘Majesty, 
arise! We await you!’’ 

“You await me? And what must I 
do?” 

“For the love of your people, deign to 
mount on that litter.” 


100 


B E P P 0 


‘‘And, when I do mount the litter, where 
will they conduct me?” 

“To the imperial palace, where you will 
live and sleep.” 

At these words, Beppo made a grimace, 
which, translated into words, signified, 
“To tell the truth, I would rather sleep on 
the branch of a tree, as I have always done, 
than on an imperial bed.” Turning to 
the chamberlain, he asked, in a sour- 
sweet tone, “Excuse me, friend, I am your 
Emperor, am I not?” 

“Most true.” 

“And what does the word ‘Emperor’ 
mean?” 

“It means that you are a monkey that 
commands all the other monkeys, and 
all your acts and desires must be imme- 
diately obeyed.” 


lOI 


B E P P 0 


‘‘Therefore, I tell you frankly that, in- 
stead of going in a litter, I prefer to walk/^ 

“I am sorry. Your Majesty; but you 
cannot.” 

“Why?” 

“Because an emperor who walks on 
his feet is no longer an emperor. Walk- 
ing on your feet you become a monkey, 
like all the rest of us.” 

“Very well. You have just said that 
all my desires must be obeyed.” 

“Of course. Your Majesty. Remember, 
however, that the most beautiful prerog- 
ative that rulers have is that of not being 
able to do as they please.” 

“I imderstand and I thank you,” said 
Beppo. And, jumping down from his 
throne, he mounted the litter. 


102 


B E P P 0 


The trumpets began to play a lively air, 
and the immense retinue moved with 
pompous grandeur. 

Arrived at the palace, the Emperor sat 
down at a table all beautifully set in the 
dining-room. Poor Beppo, although he 
had become an emperor, had an appetite 
that resembled himger, very much as a 
brother resembles a sister. But he was 
not able to appease the rumblings in his 
stomach, because all the good things, as 
soon as they were brought on the table, 
were devoured by the retinue. When the 
dinner was over, the little monkey was 
more himgry than at first. 

‘<Oh, pshaw he said to himself. ‘‘Now 
I will go to bed, and while sleeping I shall 
forget that I have not eaten.’’ 

103 


B E P P 0 


No sooner said than done. He entered 
the imperial bedroom, and after a short 
time he snored like a dormouse. When 
he was sleeping nicely, he was awakened 
by a symphony of cymbals and horns and 
thousands and thousands of voices. He 
heard cries of, ‘‘ Long live the Emperor!” 



‘‘Your Majesty,” said the chamberlain, 
entering into the room, “arise and appear 
on the balcony. Your subjects wish to 
see you.” 

“It’s a shame,” said Beppo, rubbing his 
eyes. “I slept so well.” And, staggering 
and yawning, he appeared on the balcony. 

104 


B E P P 0 


‘‘Thanks, friends,” said Beppo, moving 
his head gracefully. “ I am very happy 
to see you all. Not having anything more 
to say to you, good-night. We will see 
each other to-morrow.” 

At these words the crowd dispersed and 
Beppo returned to nestle in his imperial 
bed. But in the mean time there was 
another cry and shout. 

“What is that?” he called out, raising 
his head. 

“Your Majesty,” replied the chamber- 
lain, “your subjects desire to see you 
again. Deign to appear upon the bal- 
cony.” 

“All right,” said Beppo. “Just ask 
them to give me one minute while I wash 
my face.” 

105 


B E P P O 


A minute passed, then two passed, then 
ten, then twenty, and the Emperor did 
not appear. They went into his room, and 
they could not find him. The Emperor 
had disappeared. 


io6 


CHAPTER XIII. 


had become of the Emperor 
Beppo? 

No one saw him, and no one knew what 
to do. Perhaps he ran out the window? 
Impossible, because all the windows were 
closed and locked from the inside. What 
then? 

The fact was that they searched every- 
where. They looked in the wardrobe, 
in the pantry, in the dressing-room, in the 
back stairs, in all the small rooms, and 
finally in the cellar; but it was useless. 
Finally, after poking here and looking 
there, the idea occurred to some one to 
glance under the bed. Would you be- 
107 


B E P P 0 


lieve it? Yes, my little readers, the 
Emperor was hiding imder the bed, and 
he was sleeping like a top. What scan- 
dal ! What horror ! 

‘‘Sire! what are you doing there?’’ 
asked the chamberlain, taking Beppo re- 
spectfully by the ear. 

“I sleep,” replied Beppo, yawning and 
stretching himself. 

“Awake quickly! Have you no 
shame?” 

“To tell you the truth, when I am 
asleep, I am not ashamed to sleep.” 

“Oh! But to sleep in that place! 
Where, 0 Sire, is your imperial dignity?” 

“I forgot it,” replied Beppo, who really 
did not know what all this dignity was 
they made so much fuss about. Then, 
io8 


B E P P 0 


calling aside the chamberlain, Beppo 
whispered in his ear: “Do you wish me 
to speak to you frankly? I believed 
imtil now that to be an emperor was the 
easiest trade in the world. But to-day 
I perceive that I was deceived. Oh, 
fortunate are the little monkeys that are 
contented to remain little monkeys all 
their lives! At least they can eat when 
they are hungry and sleep when they 
are sleepy, and best of all, when they 
sleep, no one awakens them in order to 
make them run to a balcony and say 
‘thank you’ to a lot of people who do not 
want to go to bed.” 

While Beppo was confiding this to the 
chamberlain, the heavens became as 
black as the top of a chimney, and the 
109 


B E P P 0 


water came down in torrents. Then 
from under the balcony of the imperial 
palace there came a noise of trumpets 
and voices that cried: “We want the 
sun! We want the stm! If we do not 
get it, down with the Emperor 

“My friends,’’ said Beppo, stepping on 
the balcony and speaking to the monkeys 
on the large square, “my friends, what 
do you wish? ” 

“We wish the sun ! We wish it imme- 
diately !” 

“Confide in me,” said Beppo. “When 
it stops raining, I will give you the sun 
and good weather.” 

A few hours after, the rain ceased and 
the sun came out beautifully. But, when 
the monkeys perceived that the sun burnt 


no 














B E P P 0 


too much, they called the trumpeters to- 
gether and went again before the palace. 
^‘We wish water! We wish rain!’’ they 
shoitted. 

Annoyed at these words, Beppo would 
not appear on the balcony; but, hearing 
that the cries increased more and more, 
he put his head outside the window and 
said, “Do you really wish rain?” 

“Yes, yes! We wish rain! If not, 
then down with the Emperor ! ” 

“Wait a minute,” said Beppo. At 
these words the crowd clapped their 
hands and the band played the imperial 
march. A few minutes after, Beppo 
appeared on the balcony, crying, “ There 
is the water; and whoever wishes more, 
let him go to the river.” And, saying 


III 


B E P P 0 


this, he poured on their heads a pailful 
of water. 

It is impossible to imagine the tumult 
that followed. The palace was invaded 
and taken by assault. They sought for 
the Emperor everywhere, but they could 
not find him. What was there left for 
them to do? Not finding the Emperor, 
the crowd contented itself with beating 
the chamberlain. It is always thus ! In 
the things of this world the just suffer 
for the unjust. 

Meanwhile Beppo escaped by a secret 
staircase that led to the back of the pal- 
ace. When he found himself in the 
" woods and alone, he ran as if he had 
wings on his feet. And, after having rim 
two whole days, he found among the 


II2 


B E P P 0 


trees a little house without windows. At 
the door of this house was seated a beau- 
tiful rabbit that had blue fur. Seeing 
Beppo, the rabbit jiunped to its feet, and, 
saluting with its right paw most politely, 
made a profoimd bow. 

‘‘What makes you do all that?” asked 
Beppo. ( 

“I was just waiting. Your Highness.” 

“Who is this Your Highness?” 

“You, Sire.” 

“I! I understand, I imderstand! 
Would you have by chance a little some- 
thing to give me to eat and a place where 
I can sleep?” 

“Deign to enter, and you will find 
both.” 

As it is easy to imagine, Beppo ac- 

113 


cepted the invitation immediately; and 
scarcely had he placed his foot on the 
threshold when he saw a table all set and 
a nice mattress on the ground near-by. 
Without saying a word, he sat down im- 
mediately at the table, and, after having 
devoured in a moment a plate of figs and 
apricots, he sighed: “I have suffered so 
much ! My life has been an Iliad.” 

“What do you mean by an Iliad?” 

“I don^t know and I don’t care to know. 
I am like some boys. I repeat what I 
hear men say, because it sounds big.” 

“That is a very bad habit.” 

“Is that so? I will try to correct it.” 
Then he added, “If you only knew all of 
my misfortunes !” 

“I know them.” 


B E P P 0 


“How do you know them?” asked 
Beppo, greatly surprised. 

“I have read them in the ‘Babies’ 
daily Papers.’ Excuse my curiosity, Mr. 
Beppo ; but have you not made a prom- 
ise to Alfred that you would go with him 
aroimd the world?” 

“I will explain. I made him a prom- 
ise— and I did not make him a promise.” 

“What does that mean?” 

“I will explain more clearly. You 
miKt know that I was tempted to make 
that promise — do you know by what? 
By my throat.” 

“That is?” 

“Mr. Alfred, in order to entice me, 
ordered such beautiful fruit to be carried 
on the table that”— 

115 


B E P P 0 


‘‘I understand, I understand,’’ said the 
rabbit, laughing. ‘‘You have done what 
little boys do. In order to obtain from 
their papas and their mammas some 
dainty, they promise to be good, to study, 
and to gain honors at school— and then? 



And then scarcely have they obtained the 
dainties when they quickly forget the 
promise they made. Is that not true?” 

“I believe, my dear friend, you have 
guessed the truth.” 

“Do you wish to know, Mr. Beppo, 

ii6 


B E P P 0 


v/hat my grandmother used to say? My 
grandmother always said: ‘When one 
promises a thing, it is necessary to keep 
it. Those who do not keep their promise 
do not deserve to be respected by others, 
neither helped by fortime.’ Do you 
imderstand? Good-day, Mr. Beppo.” 

And the rabbit, after saying these 
words, ran away like lightning. 


117 


CHAPTER XIV. 


jyjEANWHILE the little monkey per- 
suaded himself every day that that 
little house was expressly built for him. 
Truly, he would have remained there all 
his life but for one occurrence. One night, 
moved by compassion, he opened the 
door, as you already know, for his ter- 
rible persecutor. 

‘‘I would like to know,’’ said Dry- 
throat, leaning his shoulders against the 
closed door, “I would like to know who 
is my benefactor?” 

“It is I,” replied Beppo, changing his 
voice so as not to be recognized. 

“What is your name?” 

ii8 


B E P P 0 


“My name is?” 

“I know that voice!” said the blind 
man. Then he added, “Tell me, my dear 
benefactor, have you ever seen a little 
rose-colored monkey?” 

“I have seen many monkeys, but never 
one of that color. Perhaps this one was 
green and yellow, like an omelette with 
parsley?” 

“That is his voice! ’Tis he!” said 
Dry-throat to himself. “Among your 
friends,” he added, “have you heard of 
one called Beppo?” 

“No. On the contrary, yes, it seems 
to me I have known one. But that Beppo 
was a rascal.” 

“More than a rascal! Imagine, I did 
him many favors, I even allowed him to 
119 


B E P P 0 


eat with me at my table, and do you 
know how he recompensed me? He 
blinded me with his sharp nails.” 

‘‘That I do not believe.” 

“You do not believe it?” 

“No. Beppo was a rascal; but he did 
not have a heart as bad as that.” 

“However, it was he who blinded me.” 

“No! No! No!” 

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” 

“Believe me, Dry-throat, I did not 
blind you. It was Nanni, the cat that 
belonged to Candle-bit.” 

“Ah ! Then you are discovered ! You 
are Beppo!” cried Dry-throat. 

Beppo immediately repented his impru- 
dence; but now it was too late. “I am 
as good as dead!” he said, looking for a 


120 


B E P P 0 


window. That house, unfortunately, had 
no window. 

Meanwhile Dry-throat, grabbing here 
and there with his hands, succeeded in 
catching the little monkey. Having 
seized him by the hair, he bound him 
with a little chain and placed him on his 
shoulders. Then the chief assassin left 
the house, and took the first road that 
came to his feet. 

“Where are you leading me?^’ asked 
Beppo, with a thin voice that could 
hardly be heard. 

“In a little while you will see. You 
have good eyes, and you can be my guide 
along the road.’’ 

“But where do you wish to go?” 

“Where my legs carry me.” 


I2I 


B E P P 0 


Walking day and night, they made a 
great journey without ever stopping a 
minute. One morning they found them- 
selves in a large city on the border of the 
sea. In the harbor there were himdreds 
and himdreds of steamships. Sitting 
down on a large basket near the shore, 
Dry-throat began to search in his pockets. 
Not finding a penny, he said to Beppo, 
who was half dead with hunger and fa- 
tigue, ‘‘Tell me, ugly little monkey, did 
you ever do an 3 rthing?” 

“What does that mean?” 

“Why, do you know how to sing a song? 
Can you play any instrument? Do you 
know how to jump and make summer- 
saults? Can you eat burning paper?” 

“Burning paper?” replied Beppo. “I 


122 


B E P P 0 


leave that to you. However, I know how 
to dance the polka very well, and with my 
mouth I can make the soimds of a trom- 
bone and of a violin.’’ 

That will do,” said Dry-throat. With- 
out waiting a minute, with his large loud 
voice he began to cry to the people who 
passed by: ‘‘Come one, come all ! Come 
see the celebrated rose-colored monkey, 
that has had the honor of dancing before 
all the royal heads of both hemispheres. 
My little monkey dances, sings, plays, 
and makes a thousand other noises which 
a man or some other reasoning beast can 
make. Come one, come all! The cost 
is little, the enjoyment is great!” 

After this outcry a great crowd 
gathered around. Our friend Beppo not 
123 


B E P P 0 


only pleased everybody, but created a 
furore. All the spectators cried, ‘‘Bravo !” 
until they lost their voices. When the 
spectacle was over. Dry-throat felt some 
one touch him on the elbow. It was a 
nice-looking young man, dressed in a 
travelling suit. The young man said in a 
polite manner, “Does that monkey be- 
long to you?’’ 

“It is mine.” 

“Will you sell it?” 

“With all my heart!” 

“How much do you want?” 

“Fifty dollars. But, if the price seems 
high, I will take a little less.” 

“Fifty dollars! Then the monkey is 
mine.” 

When Dry-throat had been paid, the 
124 


B E P P 0 


young man turned to the little monkey 
and said, “Don’t you recognize me, 
Beppo?” 

“Indeed, I do, my dear Mr. Alfred,” 
said Beppo, jumping for joy. Poor 
Beppo ! He was so happy that he began 
to cry like a baby. 

That same night the yoimg man Al- 
fred and the little monkey— all dressed 
from head to foot like a little waiter— 
departed for a long trip aroimd the world. 
And I would not be at all surprised to see 
one of these days a printed book entitled 
“Trip around the World, told by a Little 
Rose-colored Monkey.” 


125 


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